U.S. patent number 7,306,501 [Application Number 11/277,644] was granted by the patent office on 2007-12-11 for inflatable aquatic rescue collar.
Invention is credited to Kenney Joe Pierce, Jr., William David Pierce.
United States Patent |
7,306,501 |
Pierce, Jr. , et
al. |
December 11, 2007 |
Inflatable aquatic rescue collar
Abstract
An inflatable rescue collar is disclosed. The collar is formed
of an elongated inflatable cylindrical tube having appropriate ends
and which is of a size to extend around the upper torso of an
individual. The bladder is generally toroidal in cross-section and
defines an open channel along the length thereof through which a
web strap extends. The strap is constructed such that it may be
cinched adjacent the free ends thereof so as not to bind on an
individual, or clipped so as to be capable of applying a
compressive force about the upper torso of an individual.
Inventors: |
Pierce, Jr.; Kenney Joe (San
Diego, CA), Pierce; William David (Fuquay-Varina, NC) |
Family
ID: |
37035811 |
Appl.
No.: |
11/277,644 |
Filed: |
March 28, 2006 |
Prior Publication Data
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Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
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US 20060217014 A1 |
Sep 28, 2006 |
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Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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60665191 |
Mar 28, 2005 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
441/83; 182/3;
441/84 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B63C
9/155 (20130101); B63C 9/26 (20130101); A62B
1/02 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B63C
9/00 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;441/80,81,83,84,87
;182/3,6 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Olson; Lars A.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Quickpatents, Inc. Prince;
Kevin
Parent Case Text
PRIORITY CLAIM
This application claims the benefit of Applicants' provisional
patent application 60/665,191, filed on Mar. 28, 2005.
Claims
We claim:
1. A rescue collar for use in aquatic environments with a rescue
line comprising: an elongated inflatable bladder having first and
second ends, said bladder being generally toroidal in cross section
so as to define a central passage therethrough which is open at
first and second ends; an elongated strap extending through said
passage, said strap having first and second ends, which ends extend
out of said first and second ends, respectively, of said bladder;
means for retaining said first and second ends of said strap
adjacent to one another, said means for retaining includes a double
slot ring through which said first and second ends of said strap
are slidingly received; and means extending from at least one of
said first and second ends of said strap to connect the rescue line
thereto.
2. The rescue collar of claim 1 wherein said means extending from
at least one of said first and second ends of said strap includes a
D-ring.
3. The rescue collar of claim 1 further comprising a means for
automatically inflating said bladder.
4. The rescue collar of claim 2 further comprising means for orally
inflating said bladder.
5. The rescue collar of claim 1 further comprising a means for
discharging gas from said bladder.
6. The rescue collar of claim 1 wherein said strap is freely
slidable within said passage of said bladder.
7. The rescue collar of claim 1 wherein said bladder, when inflated
is of sufficient buoyancy to floatably support an individual in
water such that the individual's head remains above the water and
wherein said strap is composed of sufficient strength to support
the weight of the individual when lifted from the water.
8. The rescue collar of claim 7 further comprising a line tethered
to the rescue collar device.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention is generally directed to lifesaving equipment of a
type utilized in aquatic environments and, more specifically, to an
inflatable rescue collar which is of a size to extend around the
upper torso of an individual and which contains a reinforcing web
strap.
2. History of the Related Art
In the field of water rescue and safety, there are a number of
conventional devices which have been designed to facilitate victim
flotation and emergency extraction of a victim from the water. The
most basic lifesaving equipment is designed to be utilized by
casting a flotation device to a victim in the water. Conventional
lifesaving rings constructed of buoyant materials are standardly
utilized at private and public swimming pools and on water craft.
In some instances, such lifesaving rings or buoys are tethered to a
throwline, allowing the rings to be pulled back to a side of a
pool, shore or the deck of a boat once the victim has appropriately
grasped the flotation ring. Such rescue equipment id generally used
where a lifesaving victim has sufficient presence of mind to grasp
the flotation device when it is thrown into the water.
There are, however, many instances or situations wherein a person
in the water is unable to take affirmative action to assist in
their own rescue. The victim may be injured, unconscious or
panicked thus necessitating a rescuer to enter the water to provide
lifesaving assistance. Many water rescues also take place far from
shore where victims must be lifted into rescue water craft or
aircraft. In many of the foregoing situations, there are two basic
steps which are required to enable a successful rescue. First, the
victim must be stabilized or secured. In an aquatic environment,
this means that the victim must be made buoyant and supported in
such a position that the victim can breathe, even if unconscious.
Second, the victim must be safely lifted to a rescue vehicle
without injury.
There are a number of prior art water rescue safety devices which
are designed to provide victim stabilization, or flotation, and
other devices that have been specifically designed for lifting.
However, most such devices do not provide for both victim flotation
and lifting. Although some rescue devices have been designed to
provide both flotation and lifting, they are often not adequately
designed or constructed to withstand the forces which are exerted
when a person is pulled from the water during a rescue. Buoyant
collars and the like which claim to be useful for lifting can fail
when these stresses are exerted upon the collar due to the weight
of the victim.
In applicants' previously issued patent, U.S. Pat. No. 5,348,504,
an inflatable lifesaving apparatus is disclosed which is
specifically designed to assist rescuers by providing an inflatable
flotation device which may be easily placed around the upper torso
of a victim and beneath their arms in such a manner that the victim
is assured of floating in a face-up position. The apparatus also
assured that the rescuer could remain out of the persons grasp by
allowing a rescuer to approach and then maneuver the victim from
the rear. The teachings of U.S. Pat. No. 5,348,504 are hereby
incorporated herein by reference.
In another of applicants previously issued patent, U.S. Pat. No.
5,839,932, a multi-purpose rescue gear assembly is disclosed which
includes a portable belt and storage pouches which house a
flotation device and lift collar which can be used together in a
rescue situation. The teachings of this patent are also
incorporated herein by reference.
Additional examples of prior are aquatic rescue gear are disclosed
in U.S. Pat. No. 634,445 to Wilde, U.S. Pat. No. 1,487,923 to
DeVilbiss, U.S. Pat. No. 2,890,467 to Cowell, U.S. Pat. No.
3,710,409 to Davidson, U.S. Pat. No. 5,010,850 to Sailer, U.S. Pat.
No. 5,279,386 to Cearley, U.S. Pat. No. 5,702,279 to Brown and U.S.
Pat. No. 5,584,736 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,690,524 to Salvemini.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to a collar formed of an
elongated inflatable cylindrical tube or bladder having appropriate
ends and which is of a size to extend around the upper torso of an
individual. The bladder is generally toroidal in cross sectional
configuration defining an open channel along the length thereof
through which a web strap extends. The strap is constructed such
that it may be cinched adjacent the free ends thereof so as not to
bind on an individual or clipped so as to apply compressive force
about the upper torso of an individual.
It is the primary object of the invention to provide an aquatic
lifesaving collar featuring a lifting harness strap which is
constructed such that it may be affixed around an individual so as
not to bind on the individual and which is partially enclosed in an
inflatable buoyant member which member also provides a cushion
between the strap and the individual to provide greater comfort and
prevent accidental injury when lifting.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide an
aquatic safety collar including a strap which is cinched so as to
apply compressive force about the upper torso of an individual who
is unconscious.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is an illustrational view of the aquatic rescue collar of
the present invention being used in the rescue of an individual
from a boat;
FIG. 2 is an illustrational view of a rescuer lifting a victim out
of the water using the aquatic rescue collar of the present
invention;
FIG. 3 is a top perspective view of the aquatic rescue collar of
the present invention;
FIG. 3a is a partial close-up perspective view illustrating D-rings
and a rescue line of the present invention in more detail, the
rescue line attached to both D-rings;
FIG. 3b is a partial close-up perspective view illustrating the
D-rings and the rescue line of the present invention in more
detail, the rescue line attached to just one of the D-rings;
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 6-6 of FIG.
5;
FIG. 5 is a front elevational view of the invention;
FIG. 6 is a partial side elevational view of the invention,
illustrating in more detail a pressure release valve.
FIG. 7 is a partial cross-sectional view taken along line 7-7 of
FIG. 6; and
FIG. 8 is an illustrational view of the invention wherein one end
of the collar is used to lift a victim so that the collar cinches
tightly about the victim.
FIG. 8a is a partial close-up front elevational view of an
alternate configuration where in the rescue line is attached to
just one of the D-rings;
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
With specific reference to FIGS. 1-3, the present invention is
directed to an aquatic rescue collar generally designated by
reference numeral 10. The collar 10 includes an elongated toroidal
inflatable bladder 12 having appropriate free ends 13 and 14 and
through which extends a central open channel 15 (FIGS. 4, 5 and 7).
The bladder forms an air chamber 16 sealed from and surrounding the
central channel. The air chamber 16 is of a size such, when filled
with air, to provide sufficient buoyancy for a large adult.
A web strap 20 extends through the central channel 15 of the
inflatable bladder. The strap 20 includes appropriate ends 21 and
22 which extend outwardly of the bladder and pass through a double
slot ring 25. D-rings 24 are secured at each end of the strap. The
rescue collar 10 is preferably tethered to a rescue line or rope
30. The rescue line 30 has loops 32 and 33 at each end to at least
one of which are attached snap hooks 35 and 36, respectively. The
snap hook 35 is shown attached to the 2 D-rings 24 while the snap
hook 36 is, in use, attached to a fixed support on the rescue
vehicle, such as the railing of a boat. The web strap is preferably
constructed of a 13/4 inch nylon webbing capable of lifting at
least 1,000 lbs.
The bladder is preferably formed in a continuous arcuate
configuration from end to end. However, the bladder may also be
generally straight and drawn into an arcuate configuration when the
strap is inserted therethrough and the ends 21 and 22 secured
adjacent to each other by the double slot ring 25.
The collar 10 includes an auto-inflator 40 to enable rapid
inflation of the toroidal bladder 12 upon immersion in water. The
auto-inflator 40 preferably includes a pressurized gas cartridge 41
which is mounted at 43 to the side of the bladder 12 and which
provides pressurized gas to the interior of the bladder 12 when
immersed or a cord 44 is pulled.
The collar 10 may also include an oral inflation tube 45 to enable
oral inflation of the toroidal bladder 12 in situations where the
auto-inflator 40 partially or completely fails. The oral inflation
tube 45 includes a one way valve (not shown) to enable air to be
blown by an individual into the interior of the bladder 12 while
preventing any air from exiting the interior of the bladder 12.
The collar 10 also includes a pressure release valve 50 (FIGS. 3
and 6) which is used to release air from the bladder 12 to prevent
rupture in case of over inflation and after use so that the bladder
12 can be fitted with another gas cartridge and subsequently folded
or rolled for compact storage.
The rescue collar 10 of the present invention is designed to be
stored in a pouch (not shown) which may be secured in a storage
compartment of a vessel or aircraft or carried by a lifeguard or
other rescue worker. When not inflated, the collar 10 is folded or
rolled into a compact configuration and may be inserted into a
portable pouch such as disclosed in applicants' prior issued U.S.
Pat. No. 5,839,932 or into a bag (not shown) which is a
self-contained rescue apparatus consisting of the rescue collar 10
and appropriate amount of rescue line 30 in one unit. The rescue
line 30 may also be secured to a pouch containing the rescue collar
10 with one end of the rescue line 30 being clipped to a belt or
other device as is disclosed in the aforementioned U.S. Pat. No.
5,839,932.
When a rescue is necessary and the victim appears to have
sufficient presence of mind to facilitate their rescue, the collar
is removed from a pouch or other storage area and thereafter the
bladder inflated by immersion in water or pulling the cord for the
inflation device 40. Thereafter, the tethered collar member is
thrown to the person. In those instances where the victim cannot
assist in their own rescue, the rescuer will carry the collar to
the area of the victim and thereafter place the collar about the
upper torso of the victim and activate the inflator 40.
To lift the victim from the water, the collar is placed about the
upper torso of the individual. A snap hook 35 of the rescue line 30
is thereafter attached to one or both D-rings 25 and the victim
elevated utilizing the line. The compressive pressure of the strap
20 against the upper torso is resisted and cushioned by the
surrounding inflated bladder thereby preventing injury to the
individual by the strap. In FIGS. 2 and 3a, both D-rings 24 are
secured to the rescue line. However, if only a single D-ring is
connected to the rescue line, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 3b, the
collar will cinch more tightly about the victim.
When the victim has been safely secured, the rescue collar may be
removed and deflated utilizing the pressure release valve 50 or the
oral tube 45. Once air is depleted from the bladder, the collar may
be compactly rolled.
The foregoing description of the preferred embodiment of the
present invention has been presented to illustrate the general
principles of the invention and not to limit the invention to any
particular embodiment illustrated. It is intended that the scope of
the invention be defined by all of the embodiments encompassed
within the following claims and any and all equivalents
thereof.
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